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Fortune smiles on Miami again

MIZELL E-mail: Click here Archive

© St. Petersburg Times,
published December 2, 2001

BLACKSBURG, Va. -- For the 'Canes, everything keeps coming up roses.

Miami's sunshine boys, atop the college football universe, pranced into Blacksburg, where Virginia Tech plays tough and December weather can be numbing cold. Saturday all but turned into North Beach with bluebird sky and 65 degrees.

Even so, UM nearly got tanned.

Stalking a national championship, remaining undefeated, isn't supposed to be a crisp course. Predictably, there must be escapes, such as Miami tiptoeing home from Boston College with an 18-7 win, a game that was excruciatingly tight until a last-minute interception return for a touchdown.

Also needed ... sweet luck.

Saturday was not about to resemble UM's last two conquests, butcherings of Big East runner-up Syracuse 59-0, then Pac-10 husky Washington 65-7. A supposedly formidable quinella embarrassed by a collective 124-7.

Tech was no such pushover.

Luck became Miami's ally.

For the 'Canes, a major need arose after kick-blocking Hokies smothered a second punt, whittling their deficit to 26-24. The Rose Bowl, suddenly, was at real risk. In jeopardy, a Miami opportunity to wind up No.1 for the fifth time in 19 years.

A two-point conversion would square it for the rallying Blacksburg bunch.

Grant Noel has been a shaky, quite-booed quarterback successor to Michael Vick, a dazzling Virginian who eschewed his final two seasons to accept NFL millions.

Noel was intercepted three times and goaded into a fumble. Nonetheless, on that critical two-pointer, he was flawless.

For luck, Miami looked elsewhere.

Ernest Wilford, a spindly 6-foot-5 sophomore from Richmond, was Noel's prime receiver. There was an effective push-off by Wilford against Miami defender Phillip Buchanon. No penalty flag. No luck for the 'Canes. Not yet.

Buchanon tumbled to the end zone grass. Unable to cover the receiver. Wilford was hugely open. Standing, not running. Noel's pass came to Ernest's heart. So easy to catch, it seemed, any fat, old Tech alum could have handled it.

Wilford muffed.

Infamy will haunt him.

That was enough for Miami, even when Virginia Tech rushers spooked another punt by Freddie Capshaw, a 26-yard flub that died at the Miami 49 with 5:05 left. The 'Canes applied a stranglehold, and Noel was intercepted by Ed Reed.

Miami goes 11-0. Goes to Pasadena for a Rose Bowl date for the national championship. When the clock ran out, 'Canes helmets were heaved toward Old Dominion heaven. Roses, red and white, were passed around. Flowers of increasing passion.

Ken Dorsey, the Miami junior quarterback with a Heisman Trophy chance, didn't enhance his case. Even with a touchdown to dynamic tight end Jeremy Shockey, plus 20 other completions and 235 yards, the lanky Californian frequently was wild high and well shy of dominant.

But that, in a way, exhibits the total muscle of these Hurricanes, who might be deeper and better than any of Miami's four national championship classes.

Defense is superior. Reed a master interceptor. Offensive line is remarkable, beginning with 6-9, 336-pound Bryant McKinnie, a tackle who could be the No.1 pick in the NFL draft.

In postgame dramatics, not far from Miami's jubilation was a crestfallen Wilford.

Just in front of Virginia Tech's bench, his hard hat removed, the weeping kid plunged to his knees. Head bent forward until his cranium kissed the ground.

The flip side of victorious joy.

Bryan Randall, a Tech backup quarterback, clutched Wilford at the shoulders. Trying to get him up, to leave the field. His eyes wet with disgust, Wilford told his buddy, "I blew it."

After strolling to their locker room, the Hurricanes heard words of joy from Larry Coker. Their rookie coach was sniffling, as if near tears.

"As a kid, you watch Rose Bowls on television," he said. "Then after a long time in the football business, your moment comes. Trying for the biggest of prizes."

He told his players to remember "just how close we came to seeing our great season get into true trouble."

When he said the Hokies had played their hearts out, all of Miami's jocks rose and gave Tech an ovation.

Touch of 11-0 class.

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